We launch our journey together over the summer by reading and responding to two American novels: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. As you read each novel, post original comments to the discussion blog as directed below.* Then respond thoughtfully to the posts of your classmates to create a conversation. Make sure you add something new to the conversation in your responses. Ask a question, challenge an assumption, offer a different interpretation or a new insight. "I agree" does not qualify as a meaningful response.
* Please avoid fishing for ideas on the Internet. We can all google Sparknotes and Shmoop for ourselves.
Here's how it works:
- Post at least THREE original comments to the blog for each novel. See the posting suggestions below.
- Then post at least THREE responses to other students' comments about each novel.
- Altogether, you should post at least SIX original comments and SIX responses.
* The goal of the response portion of the assignment is to set the tone for the year and develop a thoughtful conversation about our reading. Obviously, the conversation works only if people participate. Adding something at the last minute that no one will see does not equal participating in the conversation. Be aware that failure to complete these assignments before your return to school may result in your removal from the class.
Due dates:
- All posts about The Scarlet Letter should be completed by Friday, July 31st.
- All posts about The Handmaid's Tale should be completed by the first day of school.
. . . but try to post before the deadline!
Posting suggestions:
1. Cite a passage, and explain why it's important to the meaning of the work as a whole.
2. Cite a passage, and explain how it contributes to the development of a dynamic character.
3. Cite a passage that evokes a strong emotional response from you, and explore your reaction.
4. Cite a passage that you find confusing. Pose genuine clarifying questions for yourself and others. Posit answers to your own questions.
5. Cite a passage that strikes you as significant or interesting for another reason. Tell us why.
Assessment:
To earn maximum credit, post thoughtful responses that are at least a few sentences in length—and carefully proofread! Please avoid misspelling characters' or authors’ names. Also, be sure to include specific references to the text (either details or short quotations). Page numbers, too, are always helpful.
Read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and share observations, analysis, and/or questions with your classmates in the comments section below. You should post at least three (3) original comments, and then respond to at least three (3) posts made by your classmates by July 31st.
In the chapter about Hester and her sewing needle, Nathaniel Hawthorne writes, "Therefore, first allowing her to pass, they pursued her at a distance with shrill cries, and the utterances of a word that had no distinct purport to their own minds, but was none the less terrible to her, as proceeding from lips that babbled it unconsciously. It seemed to argue so wide a diffusion of her shame, that all nature knew of it; it could have caused her no deeper pang had the leaves of the trees whispered the dark story among themselves—had the summer breeze murmured about it—had the wintry blast shrieked it aloud!” (Hawthrone 59). I think that this passage is important to the rest of the novel, because it sets up the importance of the woods for the rest of the book. Hester feels like everyone that lives near her looks at her as a shameful person, and by writing that even nature felt this way, sort of makes the forest into a character of its own. This is a theme throughout the book, when Hester and Pearl go into the woods to meet with the Reverend, the forest continues to be personified (for example, the brook “whisper[ing] tales” (Hawthorne 128)), thus continuing the idea that the forest is it’s own character.
ReplyDeleteI also took notice of the personification given to nature throughout the book. When I read the first passage you quoted, I didn't necessarily perceive it to be a way of identifying nature as its own character, however in a sense it was. Hawthorne identifies so many minuscule details which may seem unrelated to the specific point of a particular passage, but ultimately add up in the end.
DeleteAlso this is Hannah, I'm not sure how to get my name as the publisher.
DeleteOne passage that I found especially interesting was when Hawthorne brought up the idea that hate can be transferred into love, “Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility” (Hawthorne 110). This sentence intrigued me, and drew me to it. One thing that was so striking, is how straight forward it was, it was a stark contrast from what he was writing before. Another thing struck me the most was that while this novel was written in 1850, almost 200 years ago, this theme that Hawthorne chose to incorporate into his writing is still very much alive and true today, which shows that somethings don’t change throughout time. It was also interesting to see how many places there were in the book that showed this theme, especially with Chillingworth feelings for Hester, he spent the whole book hating her and trying to distance himself from her, then at the end he reveals he still loved her.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that a lot of the themes that Hawthorne depicts in the book are still true to this day. The society that Hester lives in is cold, and judgmental and I think that can be related to current day. We have so much pressure to be the perfect person that every little bad thing someone does can be blown out of proportion. It's interesting to read about love and hate from another, older perspective.
DeleteOwen
Delete-Cora I think you are on to something because in one of my comments that is basically what happened. The townspeople hated Hester and her baby daughter for the crime against the church and the act of Adultery.Seven years later and the townspeople seem to admire and recognize Hester as one of their own. So I think you are right in mentioning that Hate can turn into Love.
I agree with this, and I think it relates to Hawthorne's display of a pattern throughout the book of making broad statements about humanity as a whole. For example, in the quote you used, he begins by saying this behavior is found in "human nature," showing that, no matter what the situation is— what time period, location, language, etc.— humanity will still be drawn to that behavior. It's one of those moments in the book that step outside the fictional scenario of the story and speak to the audience and to reality.
DeleteOne thing that caught my attention while reading this book was the many different ways that Pearl was described. Sometimes she was described as a devil, or a devil like character, (for example, “Pearl was a demon offspring” (Hawthorne 68). Then, not long after, she was described as angelic. For example, “Little Pearl at first clapped her hands, but then lost, for an instant, the restless agitation that had kept her in a continual effervescence throughout the morning; she gazed silently, and seemed to be borne upward, like a floating seabird on the long heaves and swells of sound” (Hawthorne 162). When I read this metaphor, I imagined Pearl levitating up into the air, like an angel. This contrast is important to the development of Hester’s character. Pearl is both the good and the bad in Hester’s life. She reminds Hester of her mistakes, and the “sin” that she has, but also is the reason why she needs to be good, and she has to teach Pearl how to be a good child.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that too, and I think the duality of Pearl's being and Hester's perception of her are due entirely to heavy influences of others and of religion on the way that Hester raises and sees Pearl. I also noticed that Pearl is frequently compared to a bird, like in the chapter The Elf-Child and the Minister: "But the child, unaccustomed to the touch and familiarity of any but her mother, escaped through the open window and stood on the upper step, looking like a wild, tropical bird, of rich plumage, ready to take flight into the upper air." (Hawthorne 103) Pearl is the only character who is frequently related to animals, mythical creatures, and even objects, such as when she is referred to by the pronoun "it" for the earlier chapters of her existence. I think this is to show that Pearl doesn't have power as an individual in the story, but rather as a thing to be reacted to and acted upon by those around her. This isn't to say that she doesn't act against forces around her, but she is not perceived as a human so much as an object or animal for Hester to worry about and for the masses to judge.
DeleteEmma
DeleteAs each character develops the readers get to see more than one side of them. They become more than just good or bad and normally land somewhere in the middle. When it comes to Pearl the author included many little phrases that Cora mentioned. Normally I would just see Pearl as a nice innocent child that was born into a complicated situation. However, Hawthorne chooses to point out how she was born with her parents sins that make her devil like or “of demon origin”. It is also pointed out that Pearl is part of Hester’s punishment. When fighting to keep Pearl, Hester explained, “She is my happiness!–she is my torture, none the less!” (Hawthorne 77). All of this makes Pearl seen as a devil child, innocent child, a punishment, and a cause of happiness which is only possible because of the many different ways she was described.
One thing that I noticed almost immediately was how Hester Prynne had been treated due to her actions of committing adultery and the letter A that is placed on her bosom. I sat down for a couple minutes and thought about what it means and I made a sudden connection with Hitler and the Nazi’s. I thought this because of how the Nazi's would mark those who were Jewish with the Star of David and people who were Gay had a triangle placed on them. Not only was it a way to identify them but it was also a way to shame Jews, and Gays. They would be the "sinners" that Germany needed to get rid of to create a perfect society. It then caused an unnecessary fear of those with a mark and the same thing happened in the book. Prynne was treated differently when she had the mark on her, people were scared, and mad, and disrespectful to her. The Nazi's were not that different from the Puritans. They would shame and kill those who they see as "Sinners" or different. "The witnesses of Hester Prynne's disgrace had not yet passed beyond their simplicity. They were stern enough to look upon her death, had that been the sentence, without a murmur at its severity," (Hawthorne 39) Such lack of feeling shows that the act of betraying the church's trust and purity grants you no sympathy or kindness. I could not understand the argument as to why Hester should face death if necessary if I even wanted to. Adultery does not deserve death and no one should be marked.
ReplyDeleteI wrote this :) Owen
DeleteI cannot see my name as the publisher.
While I was reading, I didn’t think to make the connection between the scarlet letter that Hester had to wear on her breast, and the Star of David that Jewish people had to wear during the Holocaust. When you said that the Nazi’s were like the Puratins, it also made me think of how the people living in Hester’s town were a lot like the people living in Nazi Germany. Because Hester wore the scarlet letter on her breast, everyone in the town wanted to distance themselves from her, in order to not be associated with her, in the same way that during World War II, Europeans who were not Jewish would see the Star of David on someone’s chest, and want to stay their distance so that they would not be seen with them.
DeleteNow that you pointed this out, it makes a lot of sense. In this time period, the church was practically the government, and officials used it as a way to keep order. When Hester sinned, or went against the laws and ordeals of the community, she had to be harshly punished so that no others would make the same mistake. They made an example of her, to remain in control of the situation, which is exactly like Nazi Germany, when Hitler made it popular to boycott Jewish stores and to call them names and make them wear the Star of David. I felt that the difference is eventually people began to change their views on Hester slightly; I feel that towards the end of the book, although they still avoided her, the people thought less of The Scarlet Letter and sympathized with her more.
Deletehannah
DeleteBefore understanding Hester's actions and what the Scarlet Letter actually stood for, I thought about the Star of David and the use and role it played in society and wondered if the A would play a similar role. Obviously, it is seriously surprising how a letter, symbol, or badge can change how an entire society views a person/race/religion/etc. This all goes to show how judgmental society can be and how vital it is to try to hold off on judgments and be not so quick to assume the worst of someone. Like Anya also said, an important aspect to understand about this point in time is that the church was essentially the government, which is just another reminder that ideas and stereotypes can be easily spread based on peoples beliefs, no matter the validity or truth behind them.
I found it interesting that when Hester and Pearl are in the woods waiting for Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale, the sunlight "runs away" from Hester; she cannot touch it. "'See!' answered Hester, smiling. 'Now I can stretch out my hand and grasp some of it.' As she attempted to do so, the sunshine vanished; or to judge from the bright expression that was dancing on Pearl's features, her mother could have fancied that the child had absorbed it into herself..." (Hawthorne 126) This section helps portray and important idea shown in this book, as well as Hester's character. Hester has the weight of sin upon her, due to the Scarlet Letter. And yet, although Pearl was born due to an act of sin, she can absorb the sunlight. I feel like this section shows the power of mentality. Because Hester believes in the mark of the Scarlet Letter, and feels that she has stained her soul forever, Hester does not believe she can be touched with anything pure or heavenly; thus, the sunlight. Pearl, on the other hand, has been called a devil's child and seen as a demon, and yet can touch, bathe in, and even absorb the sunlight. Pearl does not yet understand what it would mean to sin or have her soul stained; her ignorance is her bliss which allows her to remain pure. Pages later, when Hester and Dimmesdale are speaking, Hester throws off the Scarlet Letter and as she feels the freedom, sunlight appears. "All at once, as with a sudden smile of heaven, forth burst the sunshine, pouring a very flood into the obscure forest..." (Hawthorne, 139) With the letter gone, Hester can imagine herself to be free of the sin she committed years ago. With this mentality of allowing herself happiness and pleasure, she appears to bring about the sunlight. Through this, a slightly different approach to the saying "ignorance is bliss" appears. By accepting and letting the past go, and not dwelling on it, one can move on and find happiness, or in this case, purity. Hester's soul is not really stained; her mind is, and when she retrieves the Scarlet Letter from the brush, in her mind she realizes that she will never erase what happened, and will live with the memory forever, but that she can free herself from the burden of that mentality and love again.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this comment, and your other comment about the Reverend's sense of identity, I remembered how Reverend Dimmesdale felt the same sense of freedom in the woods that Hester felt. When he was leaving the woods he had a sense of energy, and he was able to walk a lot faster. He felt free, and like a weight had been lifted off his shoulder. He felt this way, because he didn't have to lie about his sin. So, both Hester and the Reverend felt better when they let go of something (their sin) that was holding them back.
DeleteOne of Arthur Dimmesdale's central struggles is identity. Although in the beginning, when Hester stands on the scaffold, he does not join her, throughout the rest of the book his anguish is based off of the fact that the people do not know he is the greatest sinner of all. "He had told his hearers that we was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest... They heard it all, and did but reverence him the more." (Hawthorne, 99) This weighs on his heart and his soul, and therefore his health. He cannot stand that the people do not see him as he sees himself. However, as he also admits on page 99, he know he "had spoken the very truth, and transformed it into the veriest falsehood." He wanted people to know that he wasn't pure, and yet didn't want to admit the act of sin that stained his soul. He struggles with this until the very end, when he decides to stand with Hester and Pearl on the scaffold, and dies as he tells the world of his sins. However, the people still remember him as a saint, as a great man and great minister. This goes to prove that the identity of a person is not altogether determined by the person it belongs to, but by those that the person interacts with. It's "an instance of that stubborn fidelity with which a man's friends——and especially a clergyman's——will sometimes uphold his character; when proofs, clear as the mid-day sunshine on the scarlet letter, establish him a false and sin-stained creature of the dust." (Hawthorne, 177) This is important to the work as a whole because this happens all too often in history, where people get remembered for the one great thing they did, and the sins get discarded as simple mistakes that any person would make, and usually have no say into what type of person they were.
ReplyDeleteI think what you wrote about the the identity of Dimmesdale has a lot of truth to it. Hawthorne seems to really focus on the personality of his characters, and the inner workings of their mind. It’s a central theme of his to write about sinning, and love versus hate. I thought it was interesting to read about Dimmesdale and his struggles, because many of us think the same thing about ourselves. It can be a burden to hold in our “sins” and Hawthorne makes the reader reflect on how we remember the legacy of those who we have lost.
DeleteOwen
ReplyDelete- One thing that shocked me was how the townspeople's opinion of Hester changed. “The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her,—so much power to do, and power to sympathize,—that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength. (Hawthorne 111) I couldn't believe that Hester Prynne was treated terribly by the town and then later on admired. After everyone had been rude to Hester for a long time they suddenly started to admire her used to be beauty, her skill with the needle and her constant courage.
This was something that I noticed as well. I think that part of it has to do with how Hester acted while the town was treating her so badly. She did not try and leave to avoid her punishment, or hide in her house and never be seen, she instead took it as it was, and used it as time to grow. She never returned the disrespect that was shown towards her, and I think the people in the town started to see that, and respected her for her character.
Deletehannah
DeleteWhen I read this passage, I also took a minute to think about it; why is it that when Hester is no longer so deceivingly beautiful, or such an outrageous sinner, she is accepted? The question came into my mind of whether or not people shamed her and excluded her because there was a sense of jealousy. Maybe women made such a big deal of Hester's actions because she didn't conform to the same standards as they had, or because she was such a bold personality that she didn't deserve to have the ability to flaunt her child and her looks as she may have otherwise. But once the townspeople realized that Hester wasn't putting up a fight, and she really was a beneficial member of society, she was admired and considered "Able". This is more of a rhetorical question that came into my head, but it is a theory that could be up for discussion.
I agree, that was something I noticed and was so confused by. I genuinely thought I had missed a chapter because all of a sudden everyone admired her for the scarlet letter
DeleteOwen
ReplyDelete- One thing that I'm wondering is, Can self-repentance be enough for some people and ongoing repentance for others during this time? The reason why I ask and think this is because Roger Chillingworth tells Hester Prynne that she might be able to take it off, Now that it has been seven years since she committed the "Sin" and now that the townspeople like her. "No longer ago than yester-eve, a magistrate, a wise and godly man, was discoursing of your affairs, Mistress Hester, and whispered me that there had been question concerning you in the council. It was debated whether or no, with safety to the common weal, yonder scarlet letter might be taken off your bosom. On my life, Hester, I made my entreaty to the worshipful magistrate that it might be done forthwith!”(Hawthorne 116) Hester Responds with “It lies not in the pleasure of the magistrates to take off this badge”, “Were I worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature, or be transformed into something that should speak a different purport.” (Hawthorne 116) Meaning that she does not think that she has had enough and only one person can save her and that is god. So maybe she believes in Ongoing Repentance while Roger believes in Personal Repentance.
I like this idea. I think that what the masses in the town are trying to be logical and unbiased in their decisions, but inevitably allow their personal perceptions to affect their actions. When they are initially disgusted by her actions, those feelings are apparent in their decision to punish, but as she continuously does nothing wrong and (unintentionally) proves her likability and kindness to the town, they are sympathetic and consider lessening the punishment. I think Hester is that way too, but she is more strict with her personal principles and beliefs, and therefore doesn't change her actions or take advantage of the town's change of heart.
DeleteIn other words, I don't think their actions reflect so much their core beliefs, but rather their emotions and biases.
Deletehannah
ReplyDeleteSimilarly to what a few others have said, I took notice of the transition of the townspeople's opinions and approaches towards Hester and Pearl. When Hawthorne told of Hester's fondness and skill when it came to embroidery and how beneficial it was to the community and even the government, Hester was no more than a cheap resource at the benefit of the consumers and the cost of her self. Hester was left to the outskirts of the town, in the wilderness and up to her own good. Yet seven years later, once she was rightfully seen as an asset to the town, she was accepted, praised, and beloved.
Although this is simply just an old tale, this particular theme is still very much relevant today. No matter someone's wrongdoings or good-will, perceptions and acceptance are only a matter of opinion.
When I first started reading the book, the judgements of the townspeople on Hester seemed so severe that I thought she would never be accepted again. But as time went by and she proved herself to be no more trouble, they became less severe towards Hester. As it says in the book, it's in human's nature to forgive if they are not provoked again. If you let enough time pass by, hate turns to acceptance and love.
DeleteAs I was reading, I became very interested in the relationship between Pearl and Hester. Pearl is described as “an imp of evil, emblem and product of sin, she had no right among christened infants.” (Hawthorne 64) Peal is the product of adultery, the scarlet letter ‘A’ on Hester’s chest. Instead of taking solace in Pearl’s companionship, Hester is cautious of the child she bore. Hester dressed Pearl in “the richest tissues that could be procured.” (Hawthorne 61) Hester is ashamed of her sinned, and it can be assumed that she never wants to forget that Pearl is a sin as well. Instead of dressing her in common garb, she dresses her in magnificent dresses. To dress like this shows that Pearl is not completely pure, and serves as a reminder to Hester every day of the mistake she made. But unlike Hester, Pearl can grow from the sin that was placed upon her. As soon as Dimmesdale dies, it seems as if Pearl can finally live the normal life that Hester has always wished for her.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that Hester sees Pearl as a sin; I did not think about the way she dresses Pear as a sign of inner sin in Pearl, but now that you pointed it out it makes a lot of sense. I originally thought that she dressed Pearl in beautiful clothes to give a good impression, and to get people to see her as not a sin in herself. I feel like Hester felt sorry for her daughter having to grow up with the taint of her own sin, and wanted to make up for it by dressing in the dullest and most worn and common clothes herself, so that the judgement would fall mostly upon Hester and not her innocent daughter born from a sin that Hester committed.
DeleteSorry, the above reply ("I also noticed...") is mine.
DeleteI had noticed that Hester dressed Pearl to kind of represent the scarlet letter at one point, and I had definitely noticed that Pearl was essentially the living embodiment of Hester's sin, because she actually comes from Hester herself sinning. What I hadn’t really noticed was that Hester thought Pearl was a sin, but now that you point it out it makes a lot of sense. I also like what Anya says about how Hester feels sorry for Pearl having to live under her sin. Overall, I think that Pearl and her relationship with her mother as a living representation of her sin is a really interesting part of their character and relationship.
DeleteThere is a large contrast between the two men in Hester’s life. It’s science versus religion, and angel versus the devil. When Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale first become acquainted, they see each other as different, but they find solace in those differences. Chillingworth is described as a “man of science,” (Hawthorne 84) being a physician and dealing with herbal remedies. Dimmesdale is described as “a true religionist,” (Hawthorne 84) and seeks to solve his problems with God. I found it interesting that Hawthorne also paints Chillingworth as the devil, and having a black soul for his lack of religious morals. What he does to Dimmesdale is certainly bad, but Dimmesdale also sinned and the reader is lead to have more sympathy for him. This shows how important religion is in the book, but also in Hawthorne’s life. I think the importance of religion in our society has lessened, but there still remains a contrast between science and religion just as Chillingworth and Dimmesdale show us in The Scarlet Letter.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly to what others have said, reading the Scarlet Letter, I noticed that Hawthorne seemed to focus largely on the identity of different characters. The development of Pearl's character stuck out to me because Pearl had to deal with the consequences of Hester's sin. At one point, Pearl was described as "a born outcast of the infantile world," (Hawthorne 64) and that there was, from birth, an "inviolable circle round about her." (Hawthorne 64). Due to her mother's sin, Pearl is always looked at as an outcast and a living reminder of Hester's sin. Especially towards the beginning of the book, Pearl was portrayed as solely a symbol of Hester's sin, although as she grows up, Pearl is shown as more of a positive figure. The development of Pearl's character stuck out to me because even though she was born into a world where her mother was portrayed in a negative light, she was able to develop a relationship with her mother where she could remind her mother of her sin, as well as become more than just a symbol. At the end of the story, when Arthur Dimmesdale was dying, Hawthorne stated that "a spell was broken," (Hawthorne 175), showing how Pearl was then able to represent more than just her mother's sin and become her own individual person. I found it interesting that Hawthorne decided to make Pearl a symbol of Hester's sin, but it was beneficial to the development of Pearl's character and the relationship between Hester and Pearl.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading, the way that Hester Prynne was treated because of her sin reminded me a lot of the way that people are treated today in society. When Hester Prynne would not release the name of her child's father, it was said that "she was led back to prison, and vanished from the public gaze within it's iron-clamped portal. It was whispered, by those who peered after her, that the scarlet letter threw a lurid gleam along the dark passage-way of the interior." (Hawthorne 48). The way this scene was described with such a dark, eerie tone showed the way that society viewed Hester for committing a sin. Throughout the whole story, the way that Hester was treated as a social outcast reminded me a lot of our society in the modern day. Our society is set in stone with beliefs that are known to be "right" and "wrong." If anybody deviates from what is perceived as "good" or "normal," it is common that they are looked down upon. Although this book was written in 1850, many of the themes carry over into our modern day society. The way that Hester was treated for committing a sin is similar to the way many people are treated today. While the consequences and scenario from the Scarlet Letter vary from situations today, I believe the overall idea that society tends to form strict ideas about right and wrong still applies.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you about this. Even though this book was written in 1850, a lot of our ideas about what is “right” and what is “wrong” have stayed the same. While I was reading, there were several times that I thought about how Hester’s treatment reflected the treatment of some people today. I think that Hawthrone did a really good job of explaining and showing how Hester was treated badly just because of her sin and that the book really does have a lot of themes that relate to modern-day society.
DeleteEmma
DeleteWhen reading books set in a different time I always find it interesting to connect it to today’s society. Right from the beginning, Hester was seen as a terrible person for what she had done and one of the townspeople was caught saying, “This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die. Is there not law for it?” (Hawthorne 36). Hester was punished for years because of her sin and the scarlet letter was made so her sins would not be forgotten. Some specifics involving religion and punishment have definitely changed throughout time but as Tess mentioned, issues being seen as right and wrong or black and white are definitely seen today. We don’t live in a Puritan community hundreds of years ago, but people are judgemental and that hasn’t changed. By using a dark and eerie tone as Tess explained, Hawthorne was pointing out this judgemental society and possibly wanted a future with change. People today can see the wrongdoings in this book but may not recognize how our society has recreated this with different ideas.
Something I noticed throughout the book was that almost every main character was assigned a noun, usually used in the title of a chapter they are featured in. For example, Pearl is assigned the title, "The Elf-Child," Roger Chillingworth is "The Leech" and "The Physician," and Arthur Dimmesdale is "The Minister." The only main character without a noun is Hester, who is always mentioned simply by name (typically her full name). At first, I thought this was because she is the main character/focus of the book, but now I think it is because her actions are the least influential. The men previously mentioned are nicknamed for their occupations (or role in a situation), which shows their impact on others in their town on a daily basis. Pearl is nicknamed the "elf-child" for the way people perceive her being unusual. But Hester doesn't directly interact with others in a way that should have an impact; she exists just to survive and raise her child. Therefore, all perceptions of her are of her character, not her individual actions (except for the one that begins the whole story), meaning that she needs no other name to be called by than her own. I don't think Hester was incapable of influencing people, as more eyes were on her than most, but I think her acceptance of her role as the quiet outcast made her like a shadow in the town, not loud enough to act.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting point, that Hester isn't as influential as others in the story. I agree with you; I think this is because the story starts with such a monumental sin that the rest of the story is simply the results of that sin. Hester is the rock thrown into the pond, and "They Elf-Child," "The Leech," and "The Minister," are the ripples (which cause more ripples and more ripples, thus affecting the townspeople more than the original splash, since the ripples spread out more).
DeleteI really love this metaphor and totally agree.
DeleteThis is kind of a cool thought. While reading I definitely noticed that everyone except for Hester had a title associated with them. However, I had thought that the reason she didn't have a title was because she wore the scarlet letter, so she kind of didn't need a title, because she already had a pretty important object associated with her. However, I really like the idea that she was less influential than the other characters, and that because it was her sin that started the book she affected everyone else so they got titles. (Also, I love the metaphor!)
DeleteHannah
ReplyDeleteOver the course of the story and seeing how Hester Prynne's [ersona changed over the course of several years, I noticed how weathered and weary her impression of herself became. At no time was Hester full of herself, conceded, or "snobbish" if you will, however by the later half of the story it became more evident how Hester was insecure and displeased with her being. "The effect of they symbol- or rather, of the position in respect to society that was indicated by it- on the mind of Hester Prynne herself, was powerful and peculiar. All the light and graceful foliage of her character had been withered up by his red-hot brand, and had long ago fallen away, leaving a bare and harsh outline, which might have been repulsive, had she possessed friends or companions to be repelled by it." (Page 112). Around this point in time is when Hester was being accepted into the community, which is one reason I am led to believe that Hester's fallen nature is the reason for acceptance into the townspeople. Once Hester had been convinced that there wasn't a possibility of her to be known without the sinful A, her submission and ownership of her wrongdoings, and after she had proven to her peers that she wasn't going to run from the pressure, she was accepted and celebrated.
Unfortunately, I feel like this scenario is far too relatable to society as we know it today. Generally I feel as though controversial people aren't acceepted, praised, or forgiven until they break down and act the way society tells them to act.
Karli: This is a very interesting interpretation of how Hester behaves in relation to the townspeople. I agree that it reflects how our society operates, and it does give the readers a different perspective on how those controversial people feel when they are being shunned from the rest of the world.
DeleteHannah
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am intrigued by Hawthorne's use of phrase repitition, as I feel a number of phrases, titles, and aspects are mentioned continuously throughout the book and most certainly are intentional and meaningful to the plot. As Shelby mentioned, a common phrase seen from the beginning of the story is the title given to Pearl; Elf-Child. Nicknames are common among characters, however the fact that Pearl was depicted as an "elf" and a "devil" lend to the idea that she was unwanted, a menace, and harmful. By the number of times the name is stated, it's obvious that Hawthorne wants us to remember Pearl negatively and strangely.
Another phrase I noticed in multiple places is the term "red-hot", which was commonly found as a description of the letter that Hester had to show. I find this particular phrase to be one of the most meaningful. When thinking of something that is "red-hot", I think of something that is burning, harmful, and shameful. It's important to realize that when term is used, it's explaining the impact it has had on Hester.
Repitition is a vital aspect in the story, and a number of the vital takeaways from the story are enhanced by the use of common phrases, titles, and aspects.
-Owen
DeleteI agree with you Hannah, But I also think that "elf" meant that she was different and "devil" meant the same. Being different during this time was definitely not smart because you were killed for it. The beauty of Hester and her talent with the needle and her committing Adultery made her different. She was very close to being killed. Also I believe that the daughter was born from a different relationship and that relationship was a sin. So from the start pearl was different and that meant that people would treat her differently.
I agree with you. I also think that the reason the scarlet letter is called "red-hot" is to allude to Hellfire and connect to her inevitable punishment for her sin if she doesn't wear the letter. Perhaps it is to represent her punishment in life to take the place of eternal punishment after death. That's why the letter is so judged and reviled by the townspeople in the beginning, when they're not used to it; it reminds them of the balance of sin and punishment that Hester experiences and which is ever-present in their world.
DeleteEmma
DeleteI also noticed the repetition and phrases that Hawthorne uses and it caused me to think about how a author can influence our views. Different people may have slightly different interpretations of Pearl being called “devil” or “elf” but it is quite clear they are not positive. I thought that these words were related to her parents being sinful and how she was born with those sins and therefore devil like. I do agree with Hannah that Hawthorne did this in order to highlight the negative sides to Pearl, even though as a reader I wouldn’t think of her that way. As an author Hawthorne has the power to change our views or draw our attention to certain ideas which is seen by the use of “red hot”. I also agree that this term relates to Hester’s shame but I also think it shows the power in the letter A. The letter A on Hester made it so that everyone recognized her and punished her. For something as simple as a letter on clothing it is very powerful because of the influence it had on her life. I may not have had some of these thoughts if it wasn’t for Hawthorne’s use of repetition in his writing.
ReplyDeleteHawthorne uses many symbols in his writing, but one that particularly stood out to me was the use of Hester’s physical appearance. While she is standing on the platform, she is described as “so picturesque in her attire and mien… an object to remind him of the image of Divine Maternity, which so many illustrious painters have vied with one another to represent…” (Hawthorne 39) This beautiful image is darkened by the mention of the sin which she committed and it becomes apparent that Hester’s beauty is not normal for the pious and Puritan settlement. Later on, Hester has accepted her fate and has transformed her physical appearance to be more modest. By remaining quiet and conforming to society she becomes more socially accepted. The townspeople said “[the A] meant Able…with a woman’s strength.” (Hawthorne 111) But when Hester meets Dimmesdale in the forest and plans their escape, she takes off her ‘A’. Hawthorne describes Hester taking down her hair and “Her sex, her youth and the whole richness of her beauty, came back from what men call the irrevocable past…” (Hawthorne 139) This is a pattern displayed by the author; every time Hester tries to escape her fate, she once again indulges in physical appearance.
-Owen
DeleteI agree with this. Beauty did play a role in Hester's treatment. I agree with your statement because when Hester was younger and was more beautiful and talented people tended to resent her more for her sins. Maybe it was because she was so out of the ordinary and just stunning compared to others. So when seven years had passed and she had lost that beauty, people tended to treat her like she is normal and something not to be jealous of.
This is a really interesting point and something that I did not think about as much while I was reading. Since Hester was already set apart from all of the townspeople because of her sin, it was powerful for Hawthorne to portray Hester as more beautiful when she was escaping her fate, like you stated. This idea relates to the theme of social conformity that was expressed throughout the story because as Hester was trying to blend in more with ordinary people, her character and appearance became portrayed as ordinary. I also find it interesting that Hawthorne chose to make Hester's character so beautiful, since she was a sinner, which you would think would be portrayed as something "ugly."
DeleteOlivia
DeleteI also feel like Hester's appearance has something to do with the repetition in appearance of the rose bush in the book. The adage "every rose has its thorn," in my opinion, comes to mind when I think about Hester, because her beauty is often referenced, however her sin is the proverbial "thorn." It certainly aligns with Puritan values which dictate indulgence and vanity are frowned upon in favor of modesty and reticence. In other words, her beauty, while captivating, gets her in trouble.
Similarly to what other people have discussed, it was clear while reading this book that Hawthorne focused a lot on the development of different characters. The development of Dimmesdale's character, in particular, was especially interesting. Since Dimmesdale essentially was the reason why Hester had to live her life as an outcast, he had to live with immense amounts of guilt. Eventually, this guilt led to Dimmesdale's death after finally revealing that he was involved with Hester's sin. When Dimmesdale was speaking in reference to Hester's scarlet letter, the text states, "He tells you, that, with all its mysterious horror, it is but the shadow of what he bears on his own breast," (Hawthorne 174,) expressing how although Hester had to live with her sin, the guilt that Dimmesdale had to bear felt far worse.
ReplyDeleteOne main reason the development of Dimmesdale's character stood out to me was the way he had to live with his guilt. As much as he tried to keep it inside and become a better person, it ate away at him more and more. I drew a connection to our society today because often, people live with dark secrets that cause them to feel guilty, but people find it hard to reveal these secrets. Often, people hide aspects of their life that may cause them to feel guilt. Hawthorne portrayed how even back then, people went to great lengths to avoid revealing secrets that would be viewed as sins.
This is Olivia: I also find Dimmesdale's development interesting, particularly because he himself is a manifestation of holiness in the community as a minister. This, I believe is important because it means Hawthorne is trying to say something about the nature of guilt in religion regarding sin, and how such guilt can quite literally "eat you alive" (given Dimmesdale's sickness) no matter how holy or pious you come off as. Guilt will come for us all.
DeleteI think that Hester takes her beliefs, specifically religious, more literally than anyone else's in the story. For example, she wondered, "Would not the earth, quickened to an evil purpose by the sympathy of his eye, greet him with poisonous shrubs, of species hitherto unknown, that would start up under his fingers? Or might it suffice him, that every wholesome growth should be converted into something deleterious and malignant at his touch? Did the sun, which shone so brightly everywhere else, really fall upon him? Or was there, as it rather seemed, a circle of ominous shadow moving along with his deformity, whichever way he turned himself? And wither was he now going? Would he not suddenly sink into the earth, leaving a barren and blasted spot, where, in due course of time, would be seen deadly nightshade, dogwood, henbane, and whatever else of vegetable wickedness the climate could produce, all flourishing with hideous luxuriance? Or would he spread bat's wings and flee away, looking so much the uglier, the higher he rose towards heaven?" (Hawthorne 162-163). She only wonders this because she despises Chillingworth and believes him to be evil; she thinks that the earth should hate him if he is terrible. Additionally, and more importantly, she states upon the mention of taking off her scarlet letter: "'Were I worthy to be quit of it, it would fall away of its own nature, or be transformed into something that should speak a different purport.'" (Hawthorne 156) I wonder how these ideas came about, considering that nobody seems to have told them to her, and she was originally married to a physician. It's strange how her fantastical beliefs compare and contrast to the people she interacts with; they are very similar to her wild and innocent daughter, but more dark like those of Dimmesdale. Still, his aren't as related to nature and immediate punishment, but rather how internal struggles cause declining health. Despite the seemingly simple beliefs of the townspeople, they vary from person to person, and are more abstract beneath the surface.
ReplyDeleteAlso this idea is so constant throughout the book that it made the chapter in which she takes off the scarlet letter seem jarring and almost out of place (in my opinion).
DeleteOne thing that I noticed at the very beginning of the book is how Hester is introduced through gossip. “‘Goodwives,” said a hard-featured dame of fifty, “I'll tell ye a piece of my mind. It would be greatly for the public behoof, if we women, being of mature age and church-members in good repute, should have the handling of such malefactresses as this Hester Prynne. What think ye, gossips? If the hussy stood up for judgment before us five, that are now here in a knot together, would she come off with such a sentence as the worshipful magistrates have awarded? Marry, I trow not!’” (Hawthorne 35) This is the first time that Hester’s name is in the story, and it isn’t said in an introduction to her as a character, it is said by a random townswoman who is talking about how her and the other women would have given her a worse punishment. By introducing Hester through gossip, I think that Hawthorne did a really good job of setting up the fact that Hester is an outsider. These women obviously don’t really like her, and they think that she should have been punished more. Hawthorne also makes it obvious several more times throughout the book that Hester is an outsider. He explains that her house is far in the woods away from the other people, and he mentions at one point that even though her needlework is great the people won’t get it on wedding veil (this also connects to the letter, and her sin), and above all Hester wears the scarlet letter. So I think that having her introduced in gossip that was talking about her punishment, was a good way not only to introduce Hester, but also to help set up the fact that she is an outsider.
ReplyDeleteThis is Olivia: I think these observations are quite spot on as to their meaning and purpose! I also think that Hawthorne introduces Hester in this way to not only inform the audience of the climate she inhabits, but also inform them of the climate that women in the community inhabit as well. These women feel the need to announce their piousness through their immediate condemnation of another women, in order to appear "above" Hester in some way. But it could just as easily be them in that position as well, and Hester could just be another woman in the crowd. Simply put, Puritan society encourages the condemnation of women by their womanly peers, and thus encourages a second line of defense against straying from the social order. I think Hawthorne's portrayal of Puritan society in this way is both enlightening and concerning, and sets the environment for Hester throughout the book well.
DeleteThis is Olivia Tobin; I find the exploration into the hypocrisy of Puritan society to dominate the book and it's themes interesting -- To be more specific, chapter 5 somewhat mentions these hypocrisies in the society. Hester is shunned by the community, however, this does not stop others from commissioning her for elaborate needlework pieces. Therefore, Hester is shunned socially from the community, while her overall worth as a person is whittled down to her ability to provide her artwork to others. The hypocrisy of this, in my opinion, lies in that people will deny her of her humanity, condemn her actions, but still request she do things for them, and still utilize the things she made from her own hands. The women of the town will still continue to adorn themselves with the very same work of a woman who made and is forced to wear the dreaded scarlet "A" on her chest. The very same "A" that they regarded with disgust to its flashiness in chapter two. The portrayal of the townswomen is especially interesting to me, as their condemnation of Hester and their interest in her penalty in chapter two seems (to them) to imply their piousness in turn. This sends a message about the nature of the Puritan society, and how it requires women to condemn each other for their acts in order to appear pious or holy. This is proven further by a speech of one of the townswomen, who stands up and suggests that not only should the women be judging Hester, but said that the women would judge her more harshly than the men would. This only pushes the point harder, that women are eager to prove their holiness and conformity to the men, while oppressing themselves further by pushing the narrative in their eagerness to please. Not only is this backwards and hypocritical, it seems to be a method of controlling women from moving forward, or being less oppressed, for if the women are too busy regulating each other, shaming each other, the men never have regulate a society of docile women on their own--the women do that for them in an attempt to seem "pious" in the eyes of their community.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I found really interesting throughout the book was Hawthorne's use of syntax. The majority of his sentences stretch on, introducing an idea as well as examples of that idea within one sentence. However, at certain points in the book, the author decides to use short, to-the-point sentences. For example, on page 47, Hawthorne writes: "Hester hook her head." The sentence prior to this one goes like this: "So powerful seemed the minister's appeal, that the people could not believe but that Hester Prynne would speak out the guilty name; or else that the guilty one himself, in whatever high or lowly place he stood, would be drawn forth by an inward and inevitable necessity, and compelled to ascend the scaffold." The use of a shortened sentence, instead of seeming casual or irrelevant, is a jab in the face of the reader. It calls attention to the action (in this case, Hester's refusal to tell the name of the man she sinned with) and highlights its importance. The use of this short sentence is used again six pages later, when Hester swears to not tell the real identity of Roger Chillingworth. "And she took the oath." (Hawthorne, 53) Hawthorne does not use this again until page 105 when Arthur Dimmesdale beckons Hester and Pearl to join him on the scaffold at midnight. I feel that the first two are monumental moments in regard to the plot; because Hester does not tell who the father is, she alone is cast out of society, and she does not reveal who Roger Chillingworth really is, thus submitting the minister to Chillingworth's revenge. Overall, I feel that these short sentences help the reader spot the sections of the book that, in the end, will help convey the theme and message Hawthorne wished to give to the world.
ReplyDeleteKarli: I agree and this style of writing certainly calls out important actions that Hawthorne wanted the reader to notice. It identifies important moments in Hester's story that shape the rest of the novel. It's a excellent way to have the readers pick up on the themes and messages in the story.
DeleteThis is Olivia Tobin; I find the exploration of science vs religion in this book to be quite interesting. This study into the contrasting elements of the two "followings" (if you will) manifests as the contrasting characters of Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. I believe they are representations of these two ideas because of the way they are contrasted against each other--one holding a holy office, and the other being a mysterious man of science. They clash because one is cold, mysterious and withdrawn. The other is a community figurehead who is supposed to provide guidance. What Hawthorne has to say about each of these subjects manifests into the things that happen to the characters. Dimmesdale has a crisis of heart, and becomes literally sick with guilt of his actions as an adulterer. He himself is an ironic character because he is a minister- dedicated to chastity and the word of God, yet he himself broke that word to be with Hester. Again, the hypocrisy of religion manifested from man is what his character seems to represent, given the contrast of Dimmesdale against the "science" character of Chillingworth. Dimmesdale's suffering seems to bring him closer to God and religion, as it seems he delivers some of his best sermons and achieves a "brilliant popularity in his Sacred Office" due to his condition, and it's implied that he comes to understand the value of human weakness more intrinsically, as further reading suggests that his ability to empathize with others' suffering heightens to a "preternatural" level, (meaning 'great' or 'inhuman' levels). This, in my opinion, allows me to say that Hawthorne means to imply suffering brings one closer to god, as well as earthly struggles of fellow man, while Chillingworth's quest of revenge and preoccupation with science suggests a disconnect from these things which the minister now finds so intimate. To say it simply; the representation of Chillingworth seems to imply that science and medicine is a field removed from the suffering of others, despite being entrenched in it, while Dimmesdale's journey seems to imply that to experience suffering is to fully understand it--that simply being entrenched as a witness draws you further away from the struggles of man, not towards it.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting idea that I didn't see when I read the book but it does seem true even though their respective paths ended up in their deaths, Dimmesdale's was partly caused by Chillingworth's revenge. And once Dimmesdale announced his sin to the town publicly, Chillingworth had no more hold over him and thenceforth had lost his goal in life which was to destroy Dimmesdale, which he did. Something else that's interesting is the wholes science vs religion battle is still going on today. There are people who staunch believers on both sides, but it's hard to tell which is the right one because both believe their side to be correct and I feel like that's also something shown in the book where the two of them have differing views on things but they still manage to get along, for at least part of the book.
DeleteThis is Olivia; The repeated usage of the color red, as well as objects commonly associated with red (roses) seems to be a common and important theme which presents itself throughout the book. As early as the first chapter, in fact, is when this is first introduced. The rose bush present at the jail cell door. I find myself associating the rose bush with Hester herself, because it seems she is attractive, based on Hawthornes description of a woman "[..]with perfect elegance," and "abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam." Her beauty and her sin seem to match the popular adage "every rose has its thorn" meaning that while beautiful, there's something there that will hurt you (in Puritan culture's case, being close to someone who commits great sin). Another thing I find particularly interesting about the rose bush in front of the jail, is that the narrator finds it important to mention that, "by strange chance," the rosebush persevered in a place unlikely to survive. This could either come to represent how Hester remains in Boston despite being shunned from the community, or it could represent how she came to be in that position in the first place; alone in the New World, quite literally fresh off the boat. By strange chance, she managed to find a way for herself. But still, that thorn is ever-present. Either way, I find the representation of the rose bush throughout the book to be an important significance to Hester herself. The depiction of red is also important. Depictions of the Devil and Hell itself are always images basked in the color. A color which also stands for the passion of love, in some cases. In Hester's case, the color comes to represent her sin. Which is why I find it interesting that Pearl (in later chapters) dons the same crimson color during her visit to the governors estate, which connects her to Hester's sin further. It only makes sense, as Pearl is the product of this sin, and the book describes her as being "the scarlet letter endowed with life." This description of Pearl, which connects her to the letter, endows the letter and its implications with nuance--something that cannot be looked upon with only regret and guilt, like the punishment intended for it to be. The contradictory nature of religion can also be applied here- as life is meant as a gift, but only if achieved through means that don't break the rules. All life is a gift, except for when its a burden. Pearl is meant to be seen as both a burden as well as a gift, and it brings Hester's punishment with more nuance, as it seems there might be some fondness to how her life has changed, rather than bitterness, given how indulgently she describes her child, calling her beauty "rich and luxuriant," and describing her demeanor as having "fire in her and throughout her." Hester clearly loves her child, and is willing to take the consequences she receives if it means being a companion to Pearl, but she still finds things hard, as she mentions Pearl is "constantly in motion, from sunrise to sunset." In all this, it seems Hawthorne sets out to prove that life is more than the up and down rules of a religion, there are things that come in contradictory packages. Pearl is one of those little packages.
ReplyDeleteYour interpretation and description of the rosebush was very well-said. The rosebush was a powerful symbol, and I agree that it represented Hester well. Roses are perceived to be beautiful, but as you said, every rose has its thorns. I believe the thorns could have represented the people around Hester who forced her to confess to her sins and live her life as an outcast. Hester, because of her sin, was treated differently, but she still was able to flourish, like a rose, and live her own life with her daughter. No matter how "ugly" Hester was viewed by the people in her town due to her sin, she was able to still put "good" out into the world, and Hawthorne described her character as beautiful.
DeleteI thought that the differences between Dimmesdale announcing that he had committed sin and Hester being revealed with the scarlet letter were really interesting. For both of them, the same thing is being revealed, they had committed a sin, and they were both seen by the public as their sin was announced. However or Hester, she had no choice but to go up onto the scaffolding and stand in front of the town for three hours. She also had to live most of her life as an outcast and the scarlet letter made it so that she was an example of what not to do. For Dimmesdale he had the choice to not go up, to not say anything, but he did. This makes for really interesting parallels, Hester lived her life as an outcast, but she was happy having Pearl, and she still wanted to follow her religion and her society even though it had been harsh to her. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, was very guilty feeling, at the beginning of the book he tries to get Hester to announce that he committed the sin with her, but she wouldn’t, and so he lived with the guilt of causing her to have to “A” until he decided that he needed to announce it to the town. I think that Hawthorne did a really good job of showing how both characters were involved in the sin and the events, but that event changed their lives in two completely different ways.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with this and is something that I noticed throughout the book how they both committed the same sin, but it affected them differently in so many ways from how they were treated by the society to how they treated themselves. And how their sin was revealed affected them very differently since Hester was kind of able to go on and try to do the best she could and make a new life for herself and little Pearl. Whereas Dimmesdale just kept punishing himself because he saw himself as so unworthy of his position. Something else that's interesting about these two people and their sin is that they would have been seen as "contaminated" people by the Puritans, or unable to do any good as their souls had been tainted by the devil, but both managed to do enormous good in their community despite this sin even though Hester's was public knowledge from the start whereas Dimmesdale kept it to himself for seven long years.
DeleteI think one of the biggest themes in the book is the question of whether it's better to be punished for wrongdoings, or to avoid punishment and live with the guilt. On the surface, it would seem, especially at the beginning, that Hester's situation was worse than Dimmesdale's, what with her having to face public judgement and becoming an outcast, while Dimmesdale continued to be worshipped almost as a deity. But we witness throughout the story as the guilt of his secret tears his spirit apart, driving him nearly to madness and ruining his physical health, to the point where it kills him. Hester, although dealing with physical punishment, maintains her spirit because she is living honestly to her sin, brazenly displaying her scarlet letter for the world to critique and interpret. It is stated that the only virtue she thinks she hasn't broken is honesty, and I think that's what allowed her to maintain her mental and physical health. Additionally, I think that her way of life allowed her to raise Pearl without going mad, and that raising Pearl gave her a purpose that allowed her to keep living. Dimmesdale, believing that his daughter didn't love him, and lacking that responsibility of raising her, felt no self-worth, and therefore didn't care for himself or his spirit. I believe now that the book teaches that it is better to own up to your mistakes and face the consequences than to live with the secret.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this because by the end it does seem as though Dimmesdale's situation was much worse than Hester's even though she faced public shaming and humiliation. Something else that the book brought up was that a few years after her sin, the townspeople's view of Hester had shifted slightly. They weren't kind to her, but Hawthorne made a point that it's hard to keep hating someone who does nothing to make them worthy of that hate. And all Hester did was good to people who despised her. Whereas Dimmesdale remained the same in the public's eye as he always had been and that weighed on him just as much as his sin. And I would definitely agree that if she didn't have Pearl to raise she would have had a very different course of action, as she said to Mistress Hibbins on page 102.
DeleteWhen I was reading, I had a similar idea. It seems that, although nobody was aware of Dimmesdale's involvement in the sin until the end, he was living with the same amount of guilt as Hester, if not more. Your idea that the book teaches that it is better to own up to your mistakes is interesting and I agree. If Hester had not had to wear the scarlet letter and she, instead, kept her sin internal, the book would have a very different plot. Hester would have had to face a life similar to Dimmesdale, where her own internalized guilt could have destroyed her. Hawthorne powerfully showed the two different possible ways to cope with a secret; living with guilt or owning up to your sin.
DeletePearl is a pretty important character to the story, as a lot a people have noticed, she is basically the human representation of the scarlet letter, and Hawthorne even says it himself: “But it was a remarkable attribute of this garb, and, indeed, of the child's whole appearance, that it irresistibly and inevitably reminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was doomed to wear upon her bosom. It was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!” (Hawthorne 70). But I also noticed something else about Pearl that I thought was kind of interesting. When Hawthorne wants to express that time has passed he uses Pearl’s age to show it. There are several instances where Hawthorne does this, he does it more often when she is young saying “How soon—with what strange rapidity, indeed!—did Pearl arrive at an age that was capable of social intercourse, beyond the mother's ever-ready smile and nonsense-words!” (Hawthorne 64) or he would mention that Pearl could now walk and dance around without help. Another example is on page 111 where he says “Years had come and gone. Pearl was now seven years old.” The last good example of Pearl being used to show time moving is at the very end where he mentions that she has grown up and become more like a woman. I think that part of the reason that Hawthorne uses Pearl as an example of time passing is because she was an infant at the beginning of the book, she was only just born, so it is a super easy and good way to show that as the child grows up and ages time is passing. However, I also think that in some way it connects to how Pearl is the scarlet letter personified. Pearl ages showing how long Hester has lived with the scarlet letter. The “A” on her dress never changes, but Pearl does, and her being used to show the passage of time is just another way that Hawthorne can show Hester’s life with the “A”.
ReplyDeleteThats a good point! I never really put two and two together. I think that it is really smart that you noticed the time passing linking pearl with the scarlet letter. I never noticed that correlation but now looking back I can see it
DeleteOn page 46 is a quote that I think gives a lot of insight into who Hester was. It says, “Measured by the prisoner’s experience, however, it might be reckoned a journey of some length; for, haughty as her demeanor was, she perchance underwent an agony from every footstep of those that thronged to see her, as if her heart had been fling into the street for them all to spurn and trample upon.” This is remarked while she is making her way to the church and the scaffold for her initial public display of shame. It shows how she has the courage and strength to be “haughty” and look down upon everyone as if all this was beneath her. But it also shows how deep this public shaming is going and how even though she looks like it’s not bothering her, it’s causing her great pain to walk this path knowing what she will do at the end. This contrasts to when everything’s gone back to normal and she and Pearl live by the sea and she goes into town for one reason or another. Her head is hung low, she won’t talk to people (not that they would talk to her anyway), and she scurries about just trying to get from one place to another. For on the scaffold she knew her time would end and she would be able to go back to the solitude of the prison. But afterwards, she was always in the public eye and she knew it would never end, so her demeanor is completely different.
ReplyDeleteSomething that I found interesting was the three scaffold scenes on pages 57, 134, 221 and how they marked turning points in the story particularly in regards to Reverend Dimmesdale. The first scene was Hester’s public showing where Dimmesdale was on the balcony with the other ministers and magistrates and important people of the town. Even the reader didn’t know he had a connection with Hester and Pearl. Then there’s the scene on page 134 where Dimmesdale takes his midnight walk and finds himself at the scaffold where Hester and Pearl had stood four years previously and he had not stood with them. Eventually he stands there with Hester and Pearl and this is the first time they are together in those four years. The reader knows and he’s also associating with them, although not publicly. But it’s a step forward from the first scaffold scene where there was no connection whatsoever. Then there’s the third and final scene on page 221 where he calls Hester and Pearl to that scaffold in front of the entire town and is admitting who he is and accepting it fully as he said he should have done seven years previously even if it would have ruined him. These scenes mark, roughly, the beginning, middle, and end of the novel and showcase how Dimmesdale changes throughout the course of the novel really well.
ReplyDeleteI found the first “chapter” really interesting where Hawthorne was writing about the surveyor in the Custom House. Just the way that Hawthorne wrote the book was fascinating because it was like he was writing two novels at once. He started out writing about this surveyor who worked in the Custom House but it was a really boring job, so he dug around in all these old boxes on the second floor and found these old papers and this letter A. Then this surveyor wrote a book about the woman who wore this A and all her trials and how the townspeople remembered her and what happened to her. And that’s what the majority of the novel we read was, about Hester Prynne. But it didn’t read like a normal novel, it still felt like you were reading this thing someone else had written like it was true, but it’s not true, neither the part about the surveyor (which Hawthorn made sound like it was himself) nor the part about Hester Prynne and the Scarlet Letter. Then at the very end, it goes back to talking about what happened after the novel written by this fictional surveyor finished, kind of like an Epilogue.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that this section was really interesting. It definitely had the feeling of being two separate novels, but Hawthorne was able to make Hester's story become something that a fictional person wrote. I've never seen this done in any other book and it such a creative way to write a fictional story.
DeleteThis is Karli
DeleteEmma
ReplyDeleteThe guilt of both Hester and Dimmesdale becomes a highlight of this book. While Hester is put in the public eye and judged for her sins, Dimmesdale is in the opposite position where nobody knows what he has done. Even though the public isn’t punishing Dimmesdale he still becomes punished by himself. With the help of Chillingworth messing with him Dimmesdale truly believes, “he was altogether vile, a viler companion of the vilest, the worst of sinners, an abomination, a thing of unimaginable iniquity” (Hawthorne 99). The guilt of his affair with Hester and nobody knowing about it slowly drives him crazy to where he hurts himself then chooses to reveal what he has done. The author described Hester’s agony early in the book, “Hester Prynne had always this dreadful agony in feeling a human eye upon the token; the spot never grew callous; it seemed, on the contrary, to grow more sensitive with daily torture.” (Hawthorne 59). Hester was forced to pay for what she had done and even though it may not be fair, in the end she began to find acceptance and confidence. Each character’s guilt affected them differently which presents the question of which was worse. Hester was treated so awfully by the townspeople for her affair but in the end, Dimmesdale may have had a harder time because of his own personal guilt.
Emma
ReplyDeleteThe Scarlet Letter is not only a meaningful title but also a large symbol that changes throughout the book. One of the first descriptions we hear of the scarlet letter was, “On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A” (Hawthorne 37). This description makes the A sound elegant and fancy which contrasts its meaning of punishment and shame. It was also described as “artistically done” and “gorgeous luxuriance of fancy”. Part of this just highlights Hester’s talent with a thread and needle but I still find the description interesting. This letter A caused Hester to be tortured for years by the public and feel the guilt of her sins, yet it was a thing of beauty. Hester was forced to embrace the letter and live her life which gave the letter a new meaning. After seven years people “refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a women’s strength.” (Hawthorne 111). This is a drastic change from when the letter was originally made to bring shame to Hester and symbol adulteress. In this book, the scarlet letter had a much deeper meaning than it first seemed. Instead of symbolizing shame and sin, it could remind people that you can fix your mistakes and move on with time.
I think its interesting how the author makes something that is meant to represent shame so artistic and interesting. He describes it beautifully although it is meant to bring guilt to Hester.
DeleteEmma
ReplyDeleteThe emotion and relationships in the book became something significant and memorable. Even though this may be a story of adultery Hester’s relationship with Dimmesdale and her community became quite complicated. A quote that stood out to me was about love and hate and states, “It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love” (Hawthorne 110). I feel that this quote can apply to Hester’s life in multiple ways but it can also apply to our world. When the town learned of Hester’s sin there was an outcry of hate and disappointment. Her community wanted her to be punished for her entire life and from that came the scarlet A. For years she was alone and felt shame, guilt, and was hurt by the people around her. But as time went on as the quote says, love comes more easily than hate and can hate can turn into love, which caused her town to slowly accept her again. When it came to Dimmesdale, Hester was left taking the punishment for her affair by herself until he revealed the truth. Their relationship was complicated but still left them wanting a life together which is once again where this quote comes in. The ending of this book, where “one tombstone served for both”, left Dimmesdale and Hester together in the end. I realize that this quote has a more positive outlook which may not always be realistic but found that it could apply to multiple situations.
Karli: Something that I noticed while reading the first couple of chapters is the theme of sins and public punishment. We first meet Hester as she walks out of a prison to go and receive her punishment in front of the entire town. This is a very different way of meeting the main character because they have already brought themselves to the lowest point in their lives, whereas the audience is usually there for that journey. This scene of public shaming not only serves as a way to teach Hester a lesson, but it also teaches the townspeople to try and be better than the sinner that they see before them. It gives them a clear picture of what not to do, and keeps the ideals and religious aspects of the town alive. It was something that I found really interesting because this type of behavior can still be seen in real life today. It just really grounded this scene and made the townspeople's reactions and comments very realistic.
ReplyDeleteI personally really admire how Hawthorne incorporated Pearl into the story. Throughout the book we watch her grow up, which is a great way of showing the timeline of the story, and showing the character growth that Hester goes through while watching her daughter grow up. She serves as a symbol for her mother's sin and what the scarlet letter means. Something that is also brought up in the book is that Pearl is described as being a "demon" and an "elf", which symbolizes that because of Hester's sin Pearl is viewed as an alien among the town and even by her own mother. it isn't until Dimmesdale dies that Pearl loses that alienation and begins to climb in the social hierarchy. I believe that Pearl was described this way was because people were wary of the unknown. She was a mystery to everyone and so the townspeople and Hester viewed her as something this mystical being.
ReplyDeleteAlso this is Karli
DeleteKarli: Something that I noticed as I read the book is that Hester never truly escapes the scarlet letter. In the first half of the book Hester is given the scarlet letter has to live in the town with it on her at all times. It's a very physical reminder of her sins and it shows everyone that she meets what she had done in the past. Then we move on to when Hester leaves for Europe, where she removes her scarlet letter. Now she doesn't have the physical letter on her chest, but she still has Pearl who is the symbol of the scarlet letter, the thing that caused Hester to the shunned by the town in the first place. Finally there is Hester gravestone. She was buried next to Dimmesdale, and they are a grave with the letter A on it, symbolizing the scarlet letter that they shared. Hester's life was defined by the scarlet letter, but it wasn't necessarily the worst thing that happened in her life. She was able to have a daughter, who she loved dearly, and she ended up being able to be with her lover up until his death. Yes, she was defined by the scarlet letter, but it gave her many things in life that she didn't have before.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite parts of the book. The author didn't give us a picture perfect ending where she is able to leave her past behind and I think that says a lot about his perspective on a lot of the issues.
DeleteOne passage that I found interesting/significant in the beginning of the book happened on page 35 it said "a people amongst whom religion and law were almost identical" this part really stood out to me because it is so different from how life is now. This sentence shows why people were so mad at Hester for what she did. Because, having an affair and an illegitimate child were both seen as sins and therefor seen as an absolutely awful crime and that concept is so much different than life today. Today, her actions would be seen as disgraceful and would be heavily frowned upon but the notion of taking legal action against an adulterer is so foreign in society.
ReplyDeleteKylie ^^
DeleteKylie: "the child's whole appearance, that is irresistibly and inevitably reminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was doomed to wear upon her bosom it was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!(69,70)" This passage helps contribute to the development of Pearl's character. This was the first part of the book where I realized that Pearl was looked down upon also by society. Before this I never really understood or considered that Pearl herself would be seen as a sin by everyone around her, so, her being described as a living scarlet letter helped show me just how isolated and difficult a life Hester and Pearl had because of Hester's actions. I believe this small passage was important as it began the description of pearl's strange behaviors
ReplyDeleteKylie: ""Is Hester Prynne the less miserable think you for that scarlet letter on her breast?""I do verily believe it," answered the clergy man. "Nevertheless, I cannot answer for her. There was a look of pain in her face which I would gladly have been spared the sight of. But still, methinks it must be better for the sufferer to be free to show his pain, as this poor woman Hester is than to cover it all up in his heart" (122)" I believe that this passage is important to the book as a whiole because this shows just how guilty Dimsdale is knowing that he is the father. He wishes that he could show his guilt rather than hold it all in his heart. This passage also works well as a way to foreshadow why he is always holding his hand on his heart. Its because he feels unimaginable guilt for being the father of Pearl and having the Affair with Hester. I believe without this passage it would have been a lot harder to see just how guilty he really was and I think it was delivered in a really well thought out way.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting how much of the adults mistakes reflect on pearls and how much of an effect it has on her. This is one the elements that I thought were pretty realistic about people's behaviors.
DeleteHannah: One of the most notable themes within the scarlet letter is the theme of female individuality. Although it may have been unintentional, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about his female main character in a way that many authors of the time had not begun to. Hawthorne describes Hester, the protagonist of the Scarlet letter in a manner that showed her admirable qualities, her flaws and aspects of her life that were deemed controversial at the time. The novel states, ““she would become the general symbol at which the preacher and moralist might point...the figure, the body, the reality of sin” (Hawthorn 75). This detail is important because it depicts just how real and flawed the character was during a time when women were most commonly depicted in literature as picture perfect depictions of societies standards for women. This is something the author does throughout the novel and in my opinion, this is what made the novel so ahead of its time.
ReplyDeleteHannah: One thing about the scarlet letter that truly contributes to the story is the setting. Massachusetts and it’s various historical towns such as Boston, Plymouth and Salem are notorious for their historical importance and lore. This area not only makes a good setting physically for the story but adds another layer of historical important and context. When describing the scarlet letter the author states “...it was of a splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony...” this shows how important the morals and religious values are and shows many important details about the area and the story.
ReplyDeleteHannah: Another feature that made the scarlet letter so ahead of its time was the turbulent relationships depicted within it. Many stories of the time were told about traditional romantic relationships, but the scarlet letter is much different. Hesters relationships with Dimmesdale and Chillingworth were much different than typical relationships. Although they were dramatic at times, they were important because they were not perfect. They showed the highs and lows of the characters within their relationships to one another.
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